Mañana quiero pasar tiempo con mi familia.

the family

Breakdown of Mañana quiero pasar tiempo con mi familia.

• yo: I
• querer: to want
• mi: my
• con: with
• el tiempo: the time
• mañana: tomorrow
• pasar: to spend

Questions & Answers about Mañana quiero pasar tiempo con mi familia.

Why is mañana used instead of using a future tense like querré?

In everyday Spanish, it’s completely natural to use mañana (meaning tomorrow) plus a present-tense verb (in this case quiero) to indicate a plan or intention in the near future. While Spanish does have a future tense (like querré), it’s more common and more straightforward to say mañana quiero for a near-future plan.

Does quiero literally mean I want, or does it also convey intention?

The verb querer literally means to want, but in this context, it works much like I intend to or I’m planning to. Native speakers often use querer when talking about future plans or desires, so quiero pasar conveys an intention as well as a wish.

Why do we say pasar tiempo? Could I use another expression to say spend time?

Pasar tiempo is the most direct way to say spend time in Spanish. However, you could use pasar un rato (literally spend a while) to imply a shorter, more casual timeframe. Both expressions are common:
• pasar tiempo con mi familia – spend time with my family
• pasar un rato con mi familia – spend a while/bit of time with my family

Is there a difference between mi familia and mis familias?

Yes. Mi familia (singular) refers to my family as one unit. If you said mis familias (plural), it would imply multiple families, which is unusual unless you actually mean different family units (for example, your immediate family and your stepfamily). Normally, you’d just say mi familia.

Can the phrase be reordered to Quiero pasar tiempo con mi familia mañana and still mean the same?

Absolutely. Spanish word order is flexible, so Quiero pasar tiempo con mi familia mañana is just as correct. The meaning doesn’t change; it still indicates that your plan is to spend time with your family tomorrow.